the iberian poleward current around n and nw iberia

Manuel Ruiz-VillarrealPablo Otero Paula Conde

Alvaro Peliz Jesús Dubert

The Iberian Poleward Current around N and NW Iberia

ROMS-AGRIF

Full physics. Meteorological forcing by a high resolution model (MM5/Meteogalicia or HIRLAM/INM)

Three grids with 15Km, ~5Km and 1.8 km. Larger grid introduces a realistic large scale meridional pressure gradient and

Climatological forcing and run in the larger domain (Peliz & Dubert)

Realistic meteo forcing from August 2002

Configuration

Salinity and velocity at 100 m

Salinity

Meridional velocity

Mediterranean Water

Weakening

Enhanced slope current

Upwellingof slope current waters

downwelling

relaxation

upwelling

Slope current response to wind events

Daily model cross-section of density and S at 42 N

downwelling

relaxation

upwelling

Subsurface maximum

Surface intensified

Poleward velocity response to wind events

o oo

SST AVHRR vs model SST

Hydrographical section vs model

Quickscat vs MM5

Sensitivity tests

hmin=40m, theta_b=0.2Broader density signature

hmin=40m, theta_b=0.0Enhanced mesoscale activity

hmin=10m, theta_b=0.0More intense IPC

Conclusions

We have set-up a realistic configuration for studying the poleward slope flow off N and NW Iberia

IPC exhibits variability in response to wind events.

On the north coast, wind forcing can be the dominant term in the penetration of IPC.

Our work in progress is an evaluation of physical terms; sensitivity to different parameters and setting-up other periods of simulation.